Page 9 of Educated By the Earl (Second Sons of London 1)

“I’ll take care of the uniforms, Mrs. Rainey,” Abra promised. “And Lady Tessa.”

“See that you do,” Mrs. Rainey advised. “Lady Tessa is a generous soul. You would not want to disappoint her. She has given you a golden opportunity.”

“I’ll make the most of it. I’ll sleep on the floor next to her. I’ll see she has everything she needs.”

“That won’t be necessary,” the housekeeper said. “You will be with Bridget. She has an extra bed in her room.”

“Bridget is Lady Adalyn’s lady’s maid,” Tessa explained. “I have been sharing her until now.”

She thanked the housekeeper and watched Abra finish her breakfast before leading her up the back staircase.

“This is the one you will use, for the most part. All the servants do.”

As they continued, Tessa said, “Your duties will include helping me to bathe and dress each day. When the Season arrives, I will be required to change gowns several times a day.”

“What’s that? The Season?”

“It is a whirl of social activities from spring through summer. It gives a chance for Polite Society to come together and for women like me to look for a husband.”

“You ain’t wed?” Abra looked shocked.

“No, I cared for my parents for the last several years. Both were very ill and they passed away. I have been in mourning for a year, living with my uncle and aunt, who were gracious enough to take me in when a new earl claimed my father’s title.”

“So, you were homeless, too?” Abra asked. “Like me?”

“I would have been except for Uncle Uxbridge’s kindness,” Tessa said. “So, I will be making my come-out to society much later than most. I hope by Season’s end that I will be betrothed. I will leave it up to you, Abra, whether or not you will leave this household and come with me.”

“Of course, I will come,” Abra said, her eyes flashing, already displaying fierce loyalty to Tessa.

They reached her bedchamber and a maid was emptying the last can of water into the bath. She bobbed a curtsey to Tessa and left.

Abra gazed about the room. “It’s so big.”

“Yes, it is very nice.”

“You’ll wed a lord who has a nice house like your uncle’s?”

“I hope so. At least the wed a nice lord part. I don’t care if his house is big or small. It is who he is and how he treats me that will matter.”

Abra thought a moment. “What about the one from this morning?”

Tessa thought of the too-handsome man who towered over both of them. He must have been two or three inches above six feet. His piercing green eyes and raven black hair had been as appealing as his muscular frame.

“Definitely not him,” she said firmly.

“Why not? Do you know him?”

“I don’t,” she admitted.

“Then I’d consider him,” Abra said. “He came to your rescue. A total stranger. That’s a brave thing to do.”

“But he struck you, Abra,” Tessa pointed out. “I want to wed a man who is kind, not one who goes about punching others in the face.”

“Well, on his behalf, he didn’t know I was a female. And I was trying to rob you. Threatening you with a knife. Not that I would’ve used it.”

“Of course, you wouldn’t have,” she said, soothing. “Let’s get you undressed as we speak.”

Abra pulled the shirt over her head. It was stained and smelled something terrible. Tessa took it and dropped it on the floor. She saw the strip of linen wound around Abra’s breasts.

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